Katoomba Falls

Last Saturday, my host family took me to the Blue Mountains. We did the ever-touristy Scenic World. You fly in a sky car from one peak to the next passing both the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls (one attraction on each side). 3 minutes later you unload out of the car and have the option of hiking around to different spots. Now, mind you, my host dad, Keith, said he would be the bushman for the day. So....we didn't do too much hiking ;)

We then took the sky car back to the first peak where we boarded the cable rail to the bottom of the mountains. Yes, I have spent 2 days in real rain forest. The vines in this forest were incredible, and all over the place just like in the Tarzan movies.

Did I mention the cockatoos yet? They were all over the place. Cockatoos in flocks. I've never thought they lived like that...in the mountains... There's no way they enjoy being in itty bitty cages at the pet stores. And I saw a couple different parrot type birds. One with a red body and blue wings and then one with a red body, red wings, and blue head. And there were those green laurakets. AND, you can't forget the lyrebird. He's the father of the Three Sisters.

After the trek through the rain forest (on boardwalks of course), we rode the railway back to the top, which by the way, is the wrong way to take the rail car if you ever do chance to take it. Might I suggest that instead of taking the cable car to the bottom, take the railcar and save the cable car to come back up. If you ever make it out there, you will know why this is of upmost importance.

After  buying some postcards for my needy friends back home ;) we headed off to Echo Point.

At Echo Point we did some more meandering around until we got to the Giant Stairs. Now, if it were earlier in the day perhaps we would've conquered the stairs and gone down to walk inside one of the Three Sisters. However, it was not earlier in the day, and we had been walking for hours. So the 2 hour trip to the room in the rocks was not really screaming our names quite as loudly as the cafe down the street.

We ended the day having dinner at home and planning my wedding.

I have to interrupt here to explain some important details I forgot along the way.
For lunch (afternoon tea), we ate at Scenic World where I continued my emersion experience by eating a meat pie.
While we were out hiking in the mountains I kept making comments to Rosie that she could get married in this or that spot. Her mom eventually picked up a flier about having weddings at the Blue Mountains. This was on the table when we all settled down for dinner.

And this is how the whole converation about my wedding began. Keith decided that I should get married in Australia because that way the Peterson's would be able to make it. The head master of the college was quickly appointed as the reader for the wedding. Keith eagerly hopped up to the plate for the minister. They thought it right that my mentor teacher, Geoff should be the best man. After the weekend was over I came in and informed the staff of stage 3 that my wedding was in the planning stages. Soon afterwards, both Year 5 teachers decided to be paige boy and bridesmaid and the other Year 6 teacher was appointed Matron of Honour. Anyway...it's all a bit irrelevant...seeing as how I am not engaged and probably won't be getting married in the Blue Mountains. Unless of course, my guests would kindly chip in $100 a piece to pay for the catering and drinks.


I'm at school right now waiting to leave around 5pm. I tried to help another teacher mark some spelling work but I was abruptly kicked out when I couldn't figure out what to do. Go figure. I know I'll be missed when I'm not here tomorrow.